Cabinet

ABSTRACT

An improved storage cabinet that is relatively light weight while providing enhanced structural strength. The cabinet has specially formed side panels and back panels which, when joined together, form columns throughout the height of the cabinet&#39;s rear corners to enhance the cabinet&#39;s structural strength. The cabinet also has an end panel door stop, whose front edge is folded to create a reinforcement section, for cabinet doors to bear against. The cabinet also has double doors with complimentary forty-five degree and one hundred and thirty-five degree angle bends at the double doors&#39; center line to prevent unauthorized line-of-sight access to the contents contained within the cabinet.

CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] This present application is a continuation-in-part of copendingU.S. Ser. No. 09/098,672, filed on Jun. 17, 1998 the disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to cabinets. More specifically, thisinvention relates to a storage cabinet with improved structuralstrength.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Traditional free standing unassembled storage cabinets made frommetal, plastic, or other materials generally suffer from a few commonproblems. They are difficult to assemble, too heavy, and/or lackstructural strength. As is often the case, cabinets that are too heavyresult from attempts to provide structural strength by either formingthe cabinet components from material that is relatively thick, orincluding in the cabinet's construction a relatively large amount ofstructural reinforcement to attempt to compensate for cabinet materialthat is too thin and weak to form a structurally rigid cabinet withoutsuch reinforcement. Assembly of free standing cabinets such as these maybe time consuming and difficult due to the large number of parts toassemble and/or the increased weight of these parts. Unnecessary weightunduly increases shipping costs.

[0004] Storage cabinets are used to hold many different items that willfit, one additional limitation being the capacity of the cabinet to beara given weight upon its shelves, walls, and other structural components.A free standing cabinet's structural strength must be able toaccommodate progressively heavier loads as a user stores more and/orheavier items therein. Thus, as the cabinet's intended load carryingcapacity is increased, the cabinet's structural reinforcement normallywill be increased by the methods mentioned above to strengthen thecabinet, resulting in cabinets that may be heavy, difficult to assembleand/or expensive due to the increased costs of producing and shipping acabinet strong enough to bear heavier loads.

[0005] Another problem associated with traditional free standing cabinetconstruction is that cabinets such as these may have abutting doubledoors with an open gap where the doors meet. This is unsightly andproduces an insecure overall appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an objective of the present invention to provide animproved storage cabinet that is relatively light weight for intendedload capacity while having improved structural strength and rigidity.

[0007] It is a further objective of the present invention to provide animproved storage cabinet that is easy to assemble.

[0008] These and other objectives of the present invention are achievedby providing, in one presently preferred form, a storage cabinet thathas specially formed back panels and side panels which, when joinedtogether to create each of the cabinet's rear corners, form a column ateach corner that can bear greater loads than a traditional cabinet'srear corner. A traditional cabinet corner is often simply formed byjoining two overlapping sheets of material. The structure of thecabinets' rear corner according to the invention is much less prone tobuckling under high loads than is a traditional cabinet's rear corner,thereby enhancing the cabinet's structural strength. The stability ofthe cabinet of this invention is further enhanced by the construction ofa door stop formed from the front edges of the cabinet's top and bottompanels. The leading edge of each top and bottom panel is folded so as tocreate a double thickness of material along the leading edge to form adoor stop which is stronger than the same door stop formed without thefold.

[0009] In another presently preferred form, a support bracket replacesthe door stop formed integrally with the cabinet top and bottom panels.

[0010] The objectives of the present invention are further achieved byproviding double cabinet doors, the first and second door, in preferredform, each having a center edge with complimentary bends approximatelyequal to forty-five degrees and one hundred and thirty-five degrees,respectively. These complimentary center edges overlap so there is nodirect line-of-sight problem associated with the above mentionedtraditional abutting edges on prior art cabinet double doors. Whenclosed and secured the double doors of the present invention do notallow direct line-of-sight access to the cabinet's contents.

[0011] In another presently preferred form. The stability of the cabinetis enhanced by a support flange attached to the side panels and thecabinet's end panels to help prevent lateral and other forces frombending the side panels and top and bottom panels.

[0012] Other advantages of the invention will become more apparent tothose of ordinary skill upon review of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled storage cabinet ofthe present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the bottom of thecabinet of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a partially disassembled perspective view of a firstpreferred embodiment of the cabinet of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3A is an enlarged breakaway view of the edge of the left doorshown in FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 ofFIG. 3;

[0019]FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5A-5A of FIG.5;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a partially cut away perspective view of an end panelassembled to a side panel of the cabinet of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a door stop taken along lines7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0022]FIG. 7A is a similar view to FIG. 7 but showing the constructionof a second preferred embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 5 but showing the construction ofthe second preferred embodiment of FIG. 7A; and

[0024]FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the bottom of a thirdpreferred embodiment of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, in accord with the principlesof this invention and in preferred form, the cabinet 10 is generallycomprised of a top panel 12 a, a bottom panel 12 b, a left side panel 60a, a right side panel 60 b, a back left panel 100 a, a back right panel100 b, a left door 130 and a right door 132.

[0026] In a first preferred embodiment the top and bottom panels 12 a,12 b have an obverse side 14, a reverse side 16, an end wall 17, a doorstop 18, a rear lip 42, a left lip 34 a, and a right lip 34 b, as seenin FIGS. 2, 6, 7. For the purposes of better describing the presentinvention, the top and bottom panels 12 a, 12 b are more particularlydescribed as stated above in order to make definite the interrelatednessof the elements defining the top and bottom panels 12 a, 12 b. Forexample, the top and bottom panels 12 a, 12 b are described as havingthe end wall 17 so as to more clearly describe the relationship with thefacing 20, described below. The bottom panel 12 b, includes the facing20, a return flange 22 and a stop flange 24. When the stop 18 is viewedin cross section as shown in FIG. 7, the reverse side 16 of the facing20 forms an angle substantially equal to ninety degrees with the reverseside 16 of the end wall 17. Similarly, the reverse side 16 of the returnflange 22 forms an angle substantially equal to ninety degrees with thereverse side 16 of the facing 20, overlies the end wall 17, and isspaced therefrom by a gap 22 a. The obverse side 14 of the stop 24 formsan angle substantially equal to ninety degrees with the obverse side 14of the return flange 22 and extends away from the end wall 17. The doorstop 18 also has an integrally connected door stop reinforcing fold 26which defines an integrally connected stop plate reinforcement section28, a return flange reinforcement section 30 and a facing reinforcementsection 32, see FIG. 7.

[0027] Each of the top panel 12 a and the bottom panel 12 b have a leftlip 34 a and a right lip 34 b. The reverse side 16 of each left andright lip 34 a, 34 b forms an angle of approximately ninety degrees withthe reverse side of the end wall 17. Each left and right lip 34 a, 34 bhas integrally connected left and right lip reinforcing folds 38 a, 38 bwhich provides left and right lip reinforcement sections 40 a, 40 b, asseen in FIG. 5A. Each of the top panel 12 a and bottom panel 12 b alsohas a rear lip 42, the reverse side 16 of the rear lip 42 forming anangle of approximately ninety degrees with the reverse side of the endwall 17. Like the left and right lips 34 a, 34 b, the rear lip 42 has anintegrally connected rear lip reinforcing fold 44 which provides a rearlip reinforcement section 46, as seen in FIG. 2. The door stop 18, theleft lip 34 a and the right lip 34 b all define pairs 48 of overlyingapertures 50 a and underlying apertures 50 b. The overlying andunderlying apertures 50 a, 50 b of each aperture pair 48 alignapproximately coaxially upon forming the stop reinforcing fold 26 andthe lip reinforcing folds 38.

[0028] Both the left side panel 60 a and right side panel 60 b have anobverse side 62, a reverse side 64, a side wall 65, a leading edge 66,and a trailing edge 78, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. For the purpose ofbetter describing the present invention, the left and right side panels60 a, 60 b are more particularly described as set forth above in orderto make definite the interrelatedness of the elements defining the leftand right side panels 60 a, 60 b. When viewed in cross section, theleading edge 66 of each left and right side panel 60 a, 60 b defines aface wall 68, a door seat 70, 72, and edge finish arm 74, 76. Thereverse side 64 of the face wall 68 forms an angle approximately equalto ninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of the side wall 65. Thereverse side 64 of the door seat plate 70 forms an angle approximatelyequal to ninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of the face wall 68,and the obverse side 66 of the door seat plate 72 forms an anglesubstantially equal to ninety degrees with the obverse side 66 of thedoor seat plate 70, to form the door seat. The door seat plate 70 isspaced from the side wall 65 by a gap 70 a. The reverse side 64 of edgefinish plate 74 forms an angle approximately equal to ninety degreeswith the reverse side 64 of the door seat plate 72, and the reverse side64 of the edge finish plate 76 forms an angle approximately equal toninety degrees with the reverse side 64 of the edge finish plate 74, toform the edge finish arm. The edge finish plate 76 is spaced from doorseat plate 72 by gap 76 a. A pair of bottom hinge knuckles 92 is affixedto the surface 70 by flange 90 a of each left and right side panel 60 a,60 b and secured into place with rivets 90 b, as seen in FIG. 3.

[0029] When viewed in cross section, the trailing edge 78 of each sidepanel 60 a, 60 b has a first rear flange 80 and a second rear flange 82that cooperate to partially form a structural column in the finalcabinet assembly. The reverse side 64 of the first rear flange 80 formsan angle approximately equal to ninety degrees with the reverse side 64of the side wall 65 having a first bend edge 81. The reverse side 64 ofthe second rear flange 82 forms an angle approximately equal to ninetydegrees with the reverse side 64 of the first rear flange 80 having asecond bend edge 83. The second rear flange 82 overlies the side wall 65but is spaced therefrom by gap 82 a. The trailing edge 78 is doubledover upon the second rear flange 82 to form an integrally connectedsecond rear flange reinforcement section 85.

[0030] Each of the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 b has a top edge86 and a bottom edge 88, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the top andbottom edges 86, 88 define side wall apertures 90. The obverse side 62of the side wall 65 adjacent to each of the top and bottom edges 86, 88of each of the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 b are placed inboardof the left and right lips 34 a, 34 b of the top and bottom panels 12 a,12 b, and in abutting engagement therewith, and the side wall apertures90 are aligned substantially coaxially with the aperture pairs 48, whenthe cabinet 10 is assembled. The leading edge 66 of each side panel 60a, 60 b also defines apertures 90 which align approximately coaxiallywith the aperture pairs 48 defined in the door stop 18. Screws 186 arereceived therethrough to affix the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 bto the top and bottom panels 12 a, 12 b when the cabinet is assembled.

[0031] The cabinet 10 has a left back panel 100 a and a right back panel100 b, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each left and right back panel 100 a,100 b has an obverse side 102, a reverse side 104, a back wall 105, anoutside edge 106 and a center edge 108. For the purpose of betterdescribing the present invention, the left and right back panels 100 a,100 b are more particularly described as set forth above in order tomake definite the interrelatedness of the elements defining the left andright back panels 100 a, 100 b. Both outside and center edges 106, 108on each left and right back panel 100 a, 100 b have an edge flange 110.When viewed in cross section at FIG. 5, the obverse side 102 of the edgeflange 110 forms an angle approximately equal to ninety degrees with theobverse side 102 of the back wall 105. Each edge flange 110 formed atthe outside edge 106 and the center edge 108 has a reinforcing fold 114and a flange reinforcement section 116 formed by folding over uponthemselves each of the outside edge 106 and the center edge 108. Theedge flange 110 formed on both of the outside edge 106 and center edge108 of each of the left and right back panels 100 a, 100 b defines pairsof apertures with an overlying aperture 124 and an underlying aperture126. Apertures 124, 126 on the edge flange 110 of left 100 a back panelcenter edge 108 align substantially coaxially with the apertures 124,126 on the edge flange 110 of right 100 b back panel center edge 108,and receive screws 186 therethrough to secure the left and right backpanels 100 a, 100 b together when the cabinet is assembled.

[0032] When the left and right back panels 100 a, 100 b are assembledwith screws 186 to the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 b,respectively, substantially square and hollow structural columns 188 a,188 b are formed, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. In order to facilitate easeof assembly of the cabinet, threaded inserts 190 are fitted into theapertures 124, 126 to receive the screws 186. It will be appreciatedthat the threaded inserts 190 are fitted into all apertures that receivescrews 186 through out the cabinet's construction to facilitate ease ofassembly. This is particularly important in blind applications such asthe formation of the structural columns 188 a, 188 b. Otherwise, itwould be difficult to provide nuts, by way of example, within in gap 82a upon forming the columns 188 a, 188 b in order to secure the left backpanel 100 a to the left side panel 60 a.

[0033] The components are sized and seated so the reverse side 104 ofedge flange 110 on each left 100 a and right 100 b back panel outsideedge 106 is received against the reverse side 64 of the left 60 a andright 60 b side panel walls, respectively, and so each left 60 a andright 60 b side panel second surface fold 84 is abutted against theobverse side 102 of each left 100 a and right 100 b back panel wall 105,respectively, thereby lending reinforcement to the vertical structuralcolumns 188 a, 188 b so formed. The obverse side 102 of each first endflange 106 on the left and right back panels 100 a, 100 b is disposedadjacent to the reverse side 64 of each side panel 60 a, 60 b andpositioned between the side panel's 60 a, 60 b respective second rearflanges 82. Note these structural columns 188 a, 188 b are locatedoutside the cabinet's interior so that a rectangular shelf 180 may belocated flush against the cabinet back panels 100 a, 100 b without thestructural columns 188 a, 188 b interfering with the flush positioningof the shelf 180.

[0034] The cabinet has a left door 130 and a right door 132, both ofwhich have an obverse side 134, a reverse side 136, a cabinet wall 137,and a hinge edge 138, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 3A. For the purpose ofbetter describing the present invention, the left and right doors 130,132 are more particularly described as set forth above in order to makedefinite the interrelatedness of the elements defining the left andright doors 130, 132. At the hinge edge 138, each of the left and rightdoors 130, 132 has a first door flange 140, the reverse side 136 of thefirst door flange 140 forming an angle of approximately ninety degreeswith the reverse side 136 of the cabinet wall 137. Also at the hingeedge 138, each of the left and right doors 110, 112 also has a seconddoor flange 142, the reverse side 136 of the second door flange 142forming an angle of approximately ninety degrees with the reverse side136 of the first door flange 140, overlying the cabinet wall 137, andbeing spaced therefrom by a gap 142 a. Each second door flange 142 has areinforcing fold 144 with an integrally connected second door flangereinforcement section 146.

[0035] As is seen in cross section in FIG. 4, the left door 130 has aleft center edge 148 with a left obtuse wall 150. The reverse side 136of the left obtuse wall 150 forms an angle of approximately one hundredand thirty-five degrees with the reverse side 136 of the left door wall137. The left door 130 also has a left acute wall 152. The left acutewall 152 forms an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with thereverse side 136 of the obtuse wall 150. The left door 130 further has aleft acute fold 154 which is integrally connected to an acute wallreinforcement section 156.

[0036] The right door 132 has a right center edge 158 with a right acutewall 160. The reverse side 136 of the right acute wall 160 that forms anangle of approximately forty-five degrees with the reverse side 136 ofthe right door wall 137. The right door 132 also has a right obtuse wall162. The right obtuse wall 162 forms an angle of approximately onehundred and thirty-five degrees with the reverse side 136 of the rightacute wall 160. The right door 112 further has a right obtuse fold 164which is integrally connected to an obtuse wall reinforcement section166. Each of the left and right doors 130, 132 has a pair of top hingeknuckles 168 placed in operational relationship with the bottom hingeknuckles 92 on each of the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 b whenthe cabinet is assembled. It will be understood that the top hingeknuckles 168 are riveted to the first door flange 140 in the same manneras the bottom hinge knuckles 92 are affixed to surface 70 with flange 90a and rivets 90 b. The top hinge knuckles 168 are secured to the bottomhinge knuckles 92 with hinge pins 182.

[0037] The cabinet 10 has a shelf 180 fixed in position at approximatelymid-height within the cabinet 10. Additional shelves (not shown) may beinstalled as desired. A locking door handle 184 is fixed to the rightdoor 132 at approximately the same height at which the shelf 180 isplaced within the cabinet 10.

[0038] In a second preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 8, thestop flange 24 is formed at an angle substantially equal to ninetydegrees with the obverse side 14 of the return flange reinforcingsection 30. In this embodiment, the edge finish plate 76 has a finishplate aperture 77 so when the left and right side panels 60 a, 60 b arefitted for assembly to the top and bottom ends 12 a, 12 b a user mayeasily access the apertures 50 a, 50 b in the stop plate 24 and stopplate reinforcement section 28, respectively, in order to secure theside panels 60 a, 60 b to the top and bottom ends 12 a, 12 b with thescrews 186.

[0039] In a third preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 9, a pair of topand bottom end panels 212 (only one shown, the other being a mirrorimage thereof) has a return flange 222 and a support flange 224 definingflange apertures 224 a, 224 b. The support flange 224 has a safety hem226 to prevent a user from injury during assembly. A support bracket 278is received against the support flange 224 in order to enhance thestructural rigidity of the support flange 224. The support bracket 278defines a pair of support apertures 282 a, 282 b which overlay and arecoaxial with flange apertures 224 a, 224 b, respectively. Screws 386 a,386 b are received through the support apertures 282 a, 282 b and theflange apertures 224 a, 224 b to secure the support bracket 278 to thesupport flange so that a floor flange 286 is received against the endwall 217 of the end panel 212.

[0040] As further seen in FIG. 9, a side panel 260 has a door seat 270 aseat return flange 272 and a finish plate 274. The seat return flange272 defines apertures 276 a, 276 b which underlie apertures 284 a, 284b, respectively, defined in the support bracket 278. Screws 386 c, 386 dare received through apertures 284 a, 284 b and apertures 276 a, 276 b,respectively, to secure the support bracket 278 to the side panel 260 inorder to enhance the structural rigidity of the cabinet 10. Thus, thesupport bracket 278 ties together the side panel 260 and the end panels212 by virtue with being secured to both, thereby further enhancing thestrength of the cabinet 10.

[0041] The support bracket 278 has safety hems 280 a, 280 b to helpprevent injury to a user during installation. The support bracket 278also has shelf holes 288 (one of which being shown) which receive ashelf tab (not shown) therein to support a shelf within the cabinet 10.

[0042] It will be appreciated that use of the structure described in thethird preferred embodiment (FIG. 9) eliminates or replaces at leastelements 24, 28, 30, 32, 72, 74 and 76 in the other embodimentsdescribed above and provides an alternative support structure forstrengthening and stabilizing the cabinet 10. More particularly, thesupport bracket 278 rises above the return flange 222 to replace thestop flange 24 and, thereby, function as a stop for the cabinet doors130, 132. Alternatively, the support bracket 278 may be even with thereturn flange 222 for use in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, whereinthe doors 130, 132 may be eliminated from the cabinet 10.

[0043] Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear tothose skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects istherefore not limited to the specific detail, representative apparatusand illustrative example shown and described. This has been adescription of the present invention as currently known. However, theinvention itself should only be defined by the appended claims, whereinwe claim:

1. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each having anend wall, an end reverse side, a door stop and a facing located at anangle of about 90° relative to said end wall and extending away fromsaid end reverse side, said at least one top and bottom end panel havinga facing reinforcement section overlaying said facing and beingintegrally connected therewith by a door stop reinforcing fold, at leastone side panel having a reverse side and a trailing edge, said trailingedge forming a first rear flange integral with said side panel and asecond rear flange integral with said side panel, said first and secondrear flange cooperating to partially form a structural column, saidfirst rear flange extending outwardly from said side panel reverse side,and said reverse side of said second rear flange overlying said sidepanel reverse side but being spaced therefrom by a gap, at least oneback panel having an obverse side and an outside edge, said outside edgeforming an edge flange adapted to cooperate with said first and secondrear flanges to form said structural column, said edge flange extendingoutwardly from said back panel obverse side, and a first door and asecond door, each of said first and second doors having a door reverseside and a door center edge, said first door having a door center edgebend of about 135° towards said first door reverse side, and said seconddoor having a door center edge bend of about 45° towards said seconddoor reverse side.
 2. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom endpanel each having an end wall, an end obverse side, an end reverse side,an integral door stop and an integral facing located at an angle ofabout 90° relative to said end wall and extending away from said reverseside of said end wall, said at least one top and bottom end panel havingan integral facing reinforcing section overlaying said facing and beingintegrally connected therewith by a door stop reinforcing fold, saidfacing having an integral return flange located at an angle of about 90°relative to said facing and extending away from said obverse side ofsaid facing.
 3. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein said return flange has areturn flange reinforcement section overlaying said return flange andbeing integrally connected therewith by a door stop reinforcing fold. 4.A cabinet, comprising: at least one side panel having a reverse side anda trailing edge, said trailing edge forming a first rear flange and asecond rear flange that cooperate to partially form a structural column,said first rear flange extending outwardly from said side panel reverseside, and said second rear flange overlying said side panel reverse sidebut being spaced therefrom by a gap, said second rear flange having asecond rear flange reinforcement section overlaying said second rearflange and being integrally connected therewith by a trailing edgereinforcing fold, and at least one back panel having an obverse side andan outside edge, said outside edge being forming an edge flange adaptedto cooperate with said first and second rear flanges to form saidstructural column, said edge flange extending outwardly from said backpanel obverse side.
 5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said edge flangehas an edge flange reinforcement section overlaying said edge flange andbeing integrally connected therewith by an edge flange reinforcing fold.6. A pair of doors for a cabinet, comprising: a first door and a seconddoor, each of said first and second doors having a door reverse side anda door center edge, said first door having a door center edge bend ofabout 135° towards said first door reverse side, and said second doorhaving a door center edge bend of about 45° towards said second doorreverse side, wherein said first door has a second center edge bend ofabout 45° towards said first door reverse side, said first door centeredge having a first door reinforcing plate integrally connectedtherewith by a first door fold, and wherein said second door has asecond center edge bend of about 135° towards said second door reverseside, said second door center edge having a second door reinforcingplate connected therewith by a second door fold.
 7. In a cabinet formedof panels of sheet material and having corner structures, at least onepanel defining along a side thereof a corner structure comprising aplurality of integral folds of sheet material extending along the entirecorner structure.
 8. In a cabinet formed in part with top and bottompanels of sheet material, each of said top and bottom panels defining adoor stop for a cabinet door, said door stop comprising a portion of thesheet material forming said at least one panel being folded back onitself to form said door stop with a double thickness of said sheetmaterial.
 9. A cabinet, comprising: a top and bottom end panel eachhaving an end wall, an end reverse side, a door stop and a facinglocated at an angle of about 90° relative to said end wall and extendingaway from said reverse side of said end wall, said at least one top andbottom end panel having a facing reinforcement section overlaying saidfacing and being integrally connected therewith by a door stopreinforcing fold, at least one side panel having a reverse side and atrailing edge, said trailing edge forming a first rear flange and asecond rear flange integral with said side panel that cooperate topartially form a structural column, said first rear flange extendingoutwardly from said side panel reverse side, and said reverse side ofsaid second rear flange overlying said side panel reverse side but beingspaced therefrom by a gap, and at least one back panel having an obverseside and an outside edge, said outside edge forming an edge flangeintegral with said back panel adapted to cooperate with said first andsecond rear flanges to form said structural column, said edge flangeextending outwardly from said back panel obverse side.
 10. A cabinet,comprising: a top and a bottom end panel each comprising an end wallhaving an end reverse side; at least one of said top and bottom panelshaving formed integral therewith a support flange and a facing locatedat an angle of about 90° relative to said end wall and extending awayfrom said reverse side of said end wall, at least one side panel havinga seat return flange, a reverse side and a trailing edge, said seatreturn flange being substantially coplanar with said support flange,said trailing edge forming a first rear flange integral with said sidepanel and a second rear flange integral with said side panel, said firstand second rear flange cooperating to partially form a structuralcolumn, said first rear flange extending outwardly from said side panelreverse side, and said reverse side of said second rear flange overlyingsaid side panel reverse side but being spaced therefrom by a gap, asupport bracket attachable to said support flange and said side panel, aportion of said support bracket being received against said end reverseside to enhance the structural rigidity of the cabinet, at least oneback panel having an obverse side and an outside edge, said outside edgeforming an edge flange adapted to cooperate with said first and secondrear flanges to form said structural column, said edge flange extendingoutwardly from said back panel obverse side, and a first door and asecond door, each of said first and second doors having a door reverseside and a door center edge, said first door having a door center edgebend of about 135° towards said first door reverse side, and said seconddoor having a door center edge bend of about 45° towards said seconddoor reverse side.
 11. A cabinet, comprising: a top and a bottom endpanel each comprising an end wall, the end walls having an end wallobverse side and an end wall reverse side; at least one of said top andbottom panels having formed integral therewith a support flange and afacing located at an angle of about 90° relative to said end wall andextending away from said reverse side of said end wall, said supportflange being spaced inboard of said facing; and a support bracketattached to said support flange, a portion of said support bracket beingreceived on said end reverse side to enhance the structural rigidity ofthe cabinet.
 12. A cabinet comprising: at least one of a top panel and abottom panel having an end reverse side; at least one side panel havinga seat return flange; and a support bracket attached to said seat returnflange, a portion of said support bracket being received against saidend reverse side to enhance the structural rigidity of the cabinet.